Donnie Meche suspended

Jockey Donnie Meche has been been suspended seven days for violating one of the conditions of his probationary license in Arkansas, and as a result he was taken off his mounts Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

It was at Oaklawn last spring that Meche was suspended seven months for refusing to furnish a drug test. He also attempted to bribe a security official at the track. Meche was reinstated by the Arkansas Racing Commission in December.

Meche has confidential conditions attached to his Arkansas license. The stewards said he will be eligible to be named on horses on Friday for Sunday's races.

Meche returned to riding following his seven-month suspension at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs on Dec. 30, 2005. Saturday was the first day he had been scheduled to ride at Oaklawn this meet.